Secondary menu

Post navigation

New York City Emergency Management officials visited Washington Heights on Wednesday to discuss emergency preparedness, coordination, and planning with residents. NYC Emergency Management staff members, along with representatives from the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene hosted a mobile office at La Plaza de las Americas from 11 AM to 2 PM. Residents learned more about NYC Emergency Management’s role in educating and preparing New Yorkers for emergencies. As part of the Zika Day of Action initiative, health representatives were on hand to distribute flyers and pamphlets and to educate residents about the virus.

“NYC Emergency Management works tirelessly every day to educate and prepare New Yorkers for emergencies,” said NYC Emergency Management Commissioner Joseph Esposito. “Mobile office hours allow residents to get to know the emergency officials who are here to help them. This is a way for us to connect with residents to build community.”

“I commend the Office of Emergency Management for being proactive and reaching out to upper Manhattan residents with information about the Zika virus,” said State Senator Adriano Espaillat. “Mobile office hours will help keep the community informed and build relationships between OEM staff and northern Manhattan residents.”

“Staying informed about potential emergencies and how to prevent dangerous diseases like the Zika virus is key for the Washington Heights community,” said Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez. “The direct outreach provided by OEM and DOHMH will ensure residents are ready and prepared, which makes our community safer as a whole. These outreach efforts are valuable and I thank Commissioners Esposito and Bassett for their attention to uptown’s residents.”

NYC Emergency Management staff members were on hand to distribute a range of emergency preparedness materials. New Yorkers are encouraged to stop by to learn how to be prepared for any emergency, including steps to make a plan, gather supplies, and stay informed. Residents also learned how they can join New York City Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT), a program consisting of more than 2,000 volunteers dedicated to helping their communities during emergencies.